EU chief observer calls twin polls a big day for Bangladesh democracy

Chief Observer of the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to Bangladesh Ivars Ijabs on Thursday said it is really a big day for Bangladesh's democracy as they started observing the country's twin elections- national election and referendum - across the country.

"I think this really a big day for Bangladesh's democracy," he told reporters at Siddheswari Girls' College at New Bailey Road after observing the opening of the vote casting.

Ijabs said they are all looking forward to have a 'participatory, credible and trusted' elections in Bangladesh in this historical moment.

He said they will continue to monitor the elections across the country, including the vote counting process at the end of the day.

The Chief Observer said he would come with further information at 12pm after visiting the Curzon Hall, Dhaka University.

They deployed 90 short-term observers (STOs) to observe the election day proceedings in all 64 administrative districts of the country.

The short-term observers will observe opening of polling centres, voting, closing, as well as counting of the ballots and the tabulation of results.

"The short-term observers will be present in cities, towns and villages in almost every constituency. Their observations and reports throughout the day will be a critical element of our impartial and fact-based assessment of these historic elections," Ijabs told reporters.

With a total of 200 observers deployed across the country, he said they are contributing to the transparency of these historic elections.